000HCCHD-2026-98161 B-Reader for Coal Workers' Health Surveillance Program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is awarding a sole-source firm fixed-price contract to Dr. R. Ramakrishnan, MD, for the classification of digital chest radiographs under the Coal Workers’ Health Surveillance Program, utilizing the International Labour Office classification system. Dr. Ramakrishnan, a certified B Reader with active clinical practice, will perform electronic classifications of up to 2,000 radiographs over the five-year contract term, which begins September 1, 2026, and extends through August 31, 2031, inclusive of four annual option periods. All work is performed remotely from the vendor’s offsite location using NIOSH’s Picture Archiving Communications System and electronic ILO classification forms, with results submitted digitally. The contractor must meet stringent technical qualifications including a minimum B Reader exam score of 75, a small opacity score of at least 12, an inconsistency index of 20 or higher, board certification in radiology, pulmonary medicine, or occupational medicine, and an academic appointment, all verified through CDC/NIOSH forms. The contract value is $139,000 across all years, with quarterly payments of $6,875 and separate reimbursement for travel related to PIV card acquisition or mandatory training in Morgantown, WV. The contract imposes comprehensive security, accessibility, and compliance obligations. All personnel must obtain and maintain a Personal Identification Verification card, sign Non-Disclosure Agreements and Releases of Information, and submit detailed onboarding and offboarding documentation. Security requirements include immediate reporting of incidents within one hour, maintenance of a System Security Plan, Risk Assessment Report, Plan of Action and Milestones, and other artifacts as part of the SA&A Package. The contractor must ensure full compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards through the submission of a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template and confirm adherence to WCAG 2.0 Level AA. No physical packaging or MIL-STD requirements are applicable, as the service is entirely electronic and remote. The procurement is justified under FAR 6.302-1 and 13.106-1(b) due to the unique qualifications required of a certified B Reader, with no competition anticipated. Payment is structured quarterly with no CLIN-level detail, and the contract is severable. Only electronic submissions to dwb7@cdc.gov by July 9, 2026, will be considered, and no small business set-asides or socioeconomic certifications